Xavier was at full strength for the first time since they defeated Cincinnati in the fight marred, Crosstown Shootout but Gonzaga outrebounded, outshot and out played the home team in a 72-65 win at the Cintas Center.
Sam Dower had career highs with 22 points and 10 rebounds and the Musketeers had no answer for him.
Gonzaga held a 44-31 edge in rebounding, 14 on offense, leading to 17 second chance points. Xavier had 10 points off offensive rebounds so that differential was the difference in the game.
Gonzaga scored 24 points from behind the 3-point line with Dower a post player, hitting two big outside shots.
"The ball was falling in the warm ups and it carried over into the game," Dower said. "I was just using what the defense gave me. I guess they scouted me and didn't think, I could hit the mid-range shot."
Xavier coach Chris Mack, knew all about Dower but didn't have the answer to his hot shooting hand.
"We knew he was really good. He had a good game against us last year in less minutes," Mack said. "We did a good job against their outside shooters but Dower made shot after shot with the shot clock winding down."
Gonzaga's freshman guards have been carrying the scoring for the team.
Coach Mark Few has seen Dower shoot like that before.
"When he gets going like that, we call his number. Our guys did a good job of finding him. It wasn't an out-of-body experience. He's done that before," Few said.
Dez Wells played for the first time since the Cincinnati game, after serving a four-game suspension. The rust showed. Wells scored in double figures in four of the Musketeers first eight games but managed only eight against Gonzaga. He was just 2-for-7 from the field.
Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons led Xavier with 15 points each. Kenny Frease scored 12 and led the team with six rebounds.
"That was a great win for our program," Few said. "That team had not lost a game when they were complete."
Xavier drops to 9-4, losing four of the last five. Gonzaga improved to 11-2.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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